Happy 7th Birthday, Lucas

Yesterday, little Lucas Shinn turned seven years old! He was super excited about turning seven; I think he thinks being seven makes him a big kid. Due to the busyness of taking care of two classrooms, prepping for the new school year, thinking about packing boxes to move out of our house, and just keeping the family in order, I didn't really have much time to spend on thinking about a birthday party. Luckily, I was able to pull it off without breaking the bank or spending too much time! Woo! 

 Yearly birthday sign picture

I downloaded a free sign I found off Pinterest and glued it to cardstock paper. One of my Targets had Pokemon birthday stuff on sale so I grabbed all that too so I didn't have to waste time making my own figures. We had Lucas's friends/cousins party at a taekwondo place, which meant I didn't have to do much besides pay money. 

 Quiet bunch of kids munching on pizza and chips

 Happy birthday boy and his crew

 Our abnormal family picture

I shall call this year "the year Lucas grew up". My perfect little boy was no more. Somehow, he managed to transform into a typical elementary aged boy right under my nose! He suddenly had selective hearing, he picks fights with his younger sister, he's messy, and is irresponsible. I expect a lot more gray hairs and baggy eyes this upcoming year. He annoys me more than he's ever had the past six years, but I still love the kid. When he wants to be good, he can be real good.

I've noticed that Lucas gives 100% to things he wants to do. He started tkd a few months back and is determined to move up belts as quickly as possible. Luckily for him, he's a fast learner. When he puts his mind to something, he can accomplish it really quickly. He's also one of the last kids in his grade to swim. I've enrolled him in swimming lessons twice a week and have seen great improvement with him on that as well. He's a very bright kid (and no, I'm not just saying that because I'm his mother/future second grade teacher). His current love are Beyblades, Pokemon, Legos, and electronics. When did my baby boy grow up?!

On his birthday, I asked what he wanted to do. At first, he wanted to go to summer camp. Yay, easier for me. But then I gave him a second option and he opted for option two. What was option two? Spend a day with Mom... but, you can choose to do whatever you want! So, we started off the morning at Target where he picked out some birthday toys. We went to the Apple store so he could play on the iPad a bit. We went to the candy store where he asked for a free sample. We had lunch at McDonald's because he wanted a cheeseburger. While his baby sister was napping, I picked up his bestie and the boys played video games and worked on Legos. Then we had a family dinner at Round Table's and ended the night with Baskin Robbins. That was my boy's dream day. It was also my anti-day. Come on... McDonald's and Round Table's on the same day?! I think I would rather starve! 

 Focused on that iPad

 Every kid's favorite: McD's

 Personalized pizza: olives, pineapples, and sausage

Perfect way to end the day: ice cream!

SLO Vacation

It's been a couple years since we went to the Central Coast. We were able to get away from the heat for a few days before being welcomed home to nearly 100 degree weather! 

First pit stop: Firestone

Lucas's super loose tooth fell out during dinner

Grandma with the kids

Second pit stop: Doc Burnstein's

Firestone's and Doc Burnstein's are two of our go-to places every time we're down here. We tend to come when school is still in session so downtown SLO is pretty slow and quiet.

Pismo Beach

On day two, we went to the beach and Pismo pier. At around 10 in the morning, the beach was pretty empty, hence the clean background. 

Lunch @ Wooly's (with the nice ocean view)

Sometimes it sucks being the third child

Windy family pic on the pier

 Resting (and taking a break from Evangie) at the hotel lobby

On day three, we took a one hour drive south to Solvang. There really wasn't much to do in this small, tourist-trap Danish town. There were these butter cookies we bought. I wish I tried one there because they WERE THE BEST BUTTER COOKIES IN THE WORLD! When we left Solvang, I said I wasn't going to come back. Boy was I wrong! Those cookies are worth it! 

Took a tour around the downtown area

 Three Shinns in a (Danish) shoe

Ate at a restaurant in Pismo on the way home

On the final day of our trip, we went to Avila Farms where we got to ride a tractor to the field, eat corn, feed animals, and I think that's it. 

 Waiting for the tractor to move

Avila Farms

 Big kids feeding the animals

... and that was our summer SLO trip!

From April to May

Things have been insane in the membrane lately. Not lately, since April. There was the signing of my contract again to teach, some major house stuff about to go down, kids ending school soon, husband's birthday, and whatever else that went down. Nobody told me that being a mom to three kids, two elementary aged, was going to be go-go-go all the time.

 Little Miss Trouble

 Mother's Day picture with three little rascals

Celebrating Dan's birthday 

 Celebrating Dad's birthday @ Benihana's (5 years and going...)

Their "dad smile"

 Last day of school

Big Lucas and Little Lucas

 Found this little gem off CL for my littlest rascal

 Speaking of rascal...

 Messing with her Big Sis's stuff

 Light sabers galore

 Girls' Day

 Evangie's first time at HH

First place we went once school's out

... and that was April and May in a nutshell!

Spring Break And Then Some

Life must be crazy lately cause it's already been a month since the last update. I guess that's what happens when you have three kids and just one you. Shrug.

Start of SB ends with their school's Walk Run Challenge

Go Lucas Go

Go Charlotte Go

Spring is here @ Rita's

 I'm cooking all the time, so they like to copy me

These three eat a lot of food

 Strolled to our neighborhood park

 Hanging at the mall (these two are too big for this stuff!) 

Little one's not too big though

 Putting them to work

 My little sous chefs

 Looking back at our 2017

Easter was a bit different for us this year. Instead of dressing in our Sunday's best, we spent that morning volunteering for our church's Easter egg hunt. It was crazy... so this year, no nice family Easter picture. I also didn't have the time/energy to visit the Easter bunny at Bass Pro Shops either. 

 The best pic I have of the trio on Easter Sunday

With cousins

Baby cousin

Lucas picked up a new hobby over break

My baby suddenly looks huge (13 mo vs 3 mo)

 Posing @ 'Co

Having fun while Daddy looks for real glasses

 Creepin'

And that's it! The kids only have five weeks of school left till summer break! FIVE! That means I have five weeks of "maternity" leave left till summer... and then it's back to the work grind. It was a fun year. I enjoyed "sleeping in", wearing sweats/leggings all the time, and hanging out with my crazy baby (most of the time).